How to Install Faucets Using Plastic Water Lines

by Bob Haring

Water supply lines in houses once were copper, sometimes covered with a chrome or stainless steel facing for a more attractive appearance. Copper piping replaced cast-iron pipes used in very early water systems, but plastic tubing is replacing copper piping in many installations. Copper must be carefully bent to match connections, and often pipes must be soldered together, both difficult tasks for a homeowner. Plastic is flexible, resistant to corrosion and is easily installed, usually with crimp-on connectors or compression sleeves tightened with wrenches. Check local building codes for the specific type of plastic water piping.

1

Set the water supply pipes into the holes in the sink basin and secure them with nuts tightened to the bottom of the sink. Use an adjustable wrench to secure the faucet. Use a tape measure to determine the distance from the faucet pipes to the shut-off valves for the hot and cold water supply in the wall under the sink.

2

Measure the diameter of the copper pipes at the supply and faucet connections, usually 1/2 inch at the fixture and 1/2 or 3/8 inch at the supply pipe. Buy flexible plastic tubing with the right size connectors on each end in a length that will connect the two points easily. Don't use tubing that is too long and will bend or sag in any way that might restrict water flow.

3

Slide a connector over the copper pipe under the sink and hand-tighten the compression nut to secure it. Put the connector on the other end over the supply pipe at the shut-off valve and hand-tighten that nut. Inspect the tubing to make sure there are no kinks. Tighten the two compression connectors, using adjustable wrenches. Use two wrenches at the shut-off valve, one to hold the valve in place, the other to tighten the compression nut.

4

Use existing supply lines if they are installed with the faucet. Some manufacturers attach cross-linked polyethelene (PEX) pipes to the bottoms of faucet pipes with special crimp-on connectors. Don't try to replace these, but make sure the end that goes to the supply has the correctly sized connector. Refer to the faucet manufacturer's installation instructions if plastic pipe is pre-installed.

Things You Will Need

Adjustable wrenches

Tape measure

Tip

Before performing any work involving plumbing, shut off the water supply.

About the Author

Bob Haring has been a news writer and editor for more than 50 years, mostly with the Associated Press and then as executive editor of the Tulsa, Okla. "World." Since retiring he has written freelance stories and a weekly computer security column. Haring holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri.

Have Feedback?

Thank you for providing feedback to our Editorial staff on this article. Please fill in the following information so we can alert the Home Guides editorial team about a factual or typographical error in this story. All Fields are required.